Published 4 hours ago • loading... • Updated 1 hour ago
Polytechnique looks to revive nuclear studies as Quebec's only reactor turns 50
AtkinsRéalis is donating $1 million over five years to fund a new nuclear engineering chair as the school seeks fresh industry support.
Polytechnique Montreal is working to reinvigorate nuclear science research as its Slowpoke reactor turns 50 this year, supported by a $1-million donation from engineering company AtkinsRéalis to establish a new nuclear engineering research chair.
Fifty years ago, Canada was "pretty much in a leadership position" in nuclear engineering, Nicolas Godbout, director of engineering physics at Polytechnique, said; today, the generation that designed Candu reactors and supported Gentilly-2 has largely retired.
Reactor manager Darren Hall says the Slowpoke reactor currently provides quality assurance via neutron activation analysis, measuring the "energy signature" from radiation to quantify elements in materials.
Polytechnique hopes to hire five professors in the coming years to expand its academic capacity, with Godbout stating, "Our role as a university is to make sure that we train the engineers that will be ready to answer the call of the society."
Renewed interest in nuclear energy is growing amid climate targets, with Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Alberta planning small reactors, while Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced plans to build two large reactors in the province's northwest by 2042.